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Approximate calculation of the mean convective heat transfer coefficient kc for forced convection with a fully developed fluid flow in a turbulent regime.

Functions kc_approxForcedConvection and kc_approxForcedConvection_KC

There are basically three differences:

• The function kc_approxForcedConvection is using kc_approxForcedConvection_KC but offers additional output variables like e.g. Reynolds number or Nusselt number and failure status (an output of 1 means that the function is not valid for the inputs).
• Generally the function kc_approxForcedConvection_KC is numerically best used for the calculation of the mean convective heat transfer coefficient kc at known mass flow rate.
• You can perform an inverse calculation from kc_approxForcedConvection_KC, where an unknown mass flow rate is calculated out of a given mean convective heat transfer coefficient kc

Restriction

• Constant wall temperature or constant heat flux
• Turbulent regime (Reynolds number 2500 < Re < 1e6)
• Prandtl number 0.5 ≤ Pr ≤ 500

Calculation

The mean convective heat transfer coefficient kc is approximated through different Nusselt number Nu correlations out of [Bejan 2003, p. 424 ff].
Roughest approximation according to Dittus/Boelter (1930):

Nu_1 = 0.023 * Re^(4/5) * Pr^(exp_Pr)

Middle approximation according to Sieder/Tate (1936) considering the temperature dependence of the fluid properties:

Nu_2 = 0.023 * Re^(4/5) * Pr^(1/3) * (eta/eta_wall)^(0.14)

Finest approximation according to Gnielinski (1976):

Nu_3 = 0.0214 * [Re^(0.8) - 100] * Pr^(0.4) for Pr ≤ 1.5
     = 0.012 * [Re^(0.87) - 280] * Pr^(0.4) for Pr > 1.5

The mean convective heat transfer coefficient kc is calculated by:

kc =  Nu * lambda / d_hyd

with

Verification

The mean Nusselt number Nu representing the mean convective heat transfer coefficient kc for Prandtl numbers of different fluids is shown in the figure below.

Dittus/Boelter (target = Modelica.Fluid.Dissipation.Utilities.Types.kc_general.Rough)

Sieder/Tate (Target = Modelica.Fluid.Dissipation.Utilities.Types.kc_general.Middle)

Gnielinski (Target = Modelica.Fluid.Dissipation.Utilities.Types.kc_general.Finest)

Note that all fluid properties shall be calculated with the mean temperature of the fluid between the entrance and the outlet of the generic device.

References

Bejan,A.:

Heat transfer handbook. Wiley, 2003.